Deciphering the patterns of human settlements on the Ordos Plateau
The Ordos Plateau, a distinctive geomorphic entity in China, has been a cradle of human civilization since the late Paleolithic era. Its unique geographical and climatic conditions have fostered a rich tapestry of human history, reflected in the sett.....»»
Climate change to alter seasonal outdoor activity patterns in US
It can be hard to connect a certain amount of average global warming with one's everyday experience, so researchers at MIT have devised a different approach to quantifying the direct impact of climate change......»»
Accurately weighing costs and benefits of different methods for controlling invasive species
Invasive insect species bring a host of health, social, ecological and economic consequences, including crop damage, food insecurity, biodiversity loss, ecosystem disruption, human disease transmission and rising allergy rates......»»
Artificial "nose" can sniff out damaged fruit and spoiled meat
Although smell has historically played an important role in the fight against diseases such as the plague and tuberculosis, the human nose is generally not sensitive enough to be used as a reliable diagnostic tool. However, a new artificial "nose" in.....»»
Satellite-derived data on artificial light at night indicate rapidly increasing industrial activities in the Arctic
More than 800,000 km2 of the Arctic were affected by human activity in 2013, according to an analysis of satellite-derived data on artificial light at night. On average, 85% of the light-polluted areas are due to industrial activities rather than urb.....»»
Evolution in action: How ethnic Tibetan women thrive in thin oxygen at high altitudes
Breathing thin air at extreme altitudes presents a significant challenge—there's simply less oxygen with every lungful. Yet, for more than 10,000 years, Tibetan women living on the high Tibetan Plateau have not only survived but thrived in that env.....»»
Modeling experiments show weather-changing El Niño oscillation is at least 250 million years old
The El Niño event, a huge blob of warm ocean water in the tropical Pacific Ocean that can change rainfall patterns around the globe, isn't just a modern phenomenon......»»
Loss of "nitrogen fixers" threatens biodiversity, ecosystems, say biologists
Mississippi State University is part of a European-American collaboration studying how human activities, like fertilizer use and pollution, are impacting nitrogen-fixing plants which are crucial for maintaining healthy ecosystems by adding nitrogen t.....»»
EU delays on dangerous chemicals threaten health, environment: watchdog
The European Commission's long delays in deciding whether some dangerous chemicals can be used pose a threat to human health and the environment, the EU's rights watchdog said on Monday......»»
Deciphering the language of cells: How they sense and respond to mechanical forces
Cells, the fundamental building blocks of life, are constantly subjected to a variety of mechanical forces within our bodies. These forces, which can arise from both internal and external sources, play crucial roles in regulating cellular processes s.....»»
Study evaluates overall soil arthropod diversity at different geographic scales
Soil arthropods contribute to terrestrial ecosystem functions and services. Previous studies have mainly focused on specific arthropod and non-arthropod taxonomic groups at various geographic scales. However, the patterns of overall soil arthropod co.....»»
Distressed about climate change, a "supermajority" of young Americans across the political spectrum want bolder action
A "supermajority" of young Americans across the political spectrum feel distressed about human-made climate change and want bolder action from the government and corporations, a new study has found. Experiencing the worsening effects of a rapidly cha.....»»
Study shows wind patterns key in causing coral bleaching on Great Barrier Reef
The urgent fight to protect Australia's iconic Great Barrier Reef from disastrous mass coral bleaching events has been given a significant boost, with new research from Monash University identifying wind patterns as a key cause......»»
On New Jersey"s Burlington Island, human nature has been at odds with nature for 400 years: What"s next?
Beautiful and artificial, the 100-acre lake on Burlington Island embodies the sort of complexities that for centuries have helped make this storied piece of South Jersey real estate alluring, inspiring—and a periodic source of controversy......»»
Research finds 1.1 billion people in multidimensional poverty, with nearly a half-billion in conflict settings
New research from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) has found that poverty rates in conflict-affected nations are almost three times higher than in countries free from conflic.....»»
Scientists identify potential deep-ocean greenhouse gas storage solution
As the planet continues to warm and the ramifications of human-driven climate change continue to amplify, the need to find ways to mitigate climate change is growing. In Nature Communications, University of California, Irvine scientists describe a ne.....»»
New fabrication strategy enhances graphene aerogel sensitivity and durability for human-machine interfaces
In recent years, researchers have synthesized various new materials that could be used to develop more advanced robotic systems, devices and human-machine interfaces. These materials include graphene aerogels, ultralight, porous and graphene-based ma.....»»
Biofabrication should be sustainable: Researcher calls for a rethink in current practices
Miriam Filippi, a researcher in the field of soft robotics working on developing bioinspired artificial muscle tissues, believes we can make human activities more ecologically sound by harnessing the power of living cells for bio-hybrid materials......»»
In search of evidence of ancient human existence, researchers traverse the inhospitable Namib desert
Strewn across the Namib desert is a treasure trove of stone tools of which little is known because getting to them is so difficult. There are few roads and vehicles have limited access in this protected area that lies in the desert of western Namibia.....»»
Identifying the genes that viruses "steal" from ocean microbes
The microbes that cycle nutrients in the ocean don't do the work on their own—the viruses that infect them also influence the process. It's a vital job for the rest of the planet, enabling oceans to absorb half of the human-generated carbon in the.....»»
Cats associate human words with images, experiment suggests
A small team of animal scientists at Azabu University, in Japan, has found via experimentation that common house cats are capable of associating human words with images without prompting or reward. In their study, published in the journal Scientific.....»»